Closer Hot Seat update: April 11, 2016

Welcome to our weekly Hot Seat column! Each week — usually on Mondays — we’ll update this space to give you an easy-to-reference guide on who might be closest to losing their jobs. Note that this isn’t necessarily a ranking of the best closers; rather, it’s a guide to job security.

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Latest update: April 11, 2016

Currently, there aren’t really any closers who are on the brink of losing their job. The three guys in the top category are there by virtue of being in a committee, but they’re all pretty secure in their positions as top options in their respective bullpens. People who are speculating this week might want to look at the handcuffs for K-Rod, Shawn Tolleson, and J.J. Hoover, all of whom have struggled out of the gate.

Hottest – In a committee or on the verge of losing their job right now
30. Jeanmar Gomez (Handcuff: David Hernandez)
29. Alex Colome (Handcuffs: Xavier Cedeno, Danny Farquhar)
28. Arodys Vizcaino (Handcuff: Jason Grilli)

Hot – Guys who could be in danger after their next blown save
27. Francisco Rodriguez (Handcuffs: Mark Lowe, Justin Wilson)
26. Shawn Tolleson (Handcuff: Sam Dyson)
25. J.J. Hoover (Handcuffs: Jumbo Diaz, Tony Cingrani)

Warmish – Two blown saves in a row and these players might be in trouble
24. Fernando Rodney
23. Glen Perkins
22. Sean Doolittle
21. Steve Cishek
20. Hector Rondon
19. Santiago Casilla
18. Luke Gregerson
17. Roberto Osuna

Cool – These players would have to blow 3 consecutive saves for their jobs to be in jeopardy
16. Jake McGee
15. Jeremy Jeffress
14. Brad Ziegler
13. AJ Ramos
12. Jonathan Papelbon
11. Huston Street
10. Andrew Miller
9. Mark Melancon
8. David Robertson
7. Cody Allen
6. Jeurys Familia
5. Trevor Rosenthal

Sub-zero – These players would have to blow 4+ consecutive saves for their jobs to be in jeopardy
4. Zach Britton
3. Kenley Jansen
2. Craig Kimbrel
1. Wade Davis

Gomez records save, Hoover is backed by manager

April 10, 2016

Philadelphia Phillies — The Phillies won their first game of the season on Saturday, and it was Jeanmar Gomez who picked up the save.  He only needed six pitches to retire the Mets in order.  David Hernandez pitched a perfect 8th inning with two strikeouts.  Meanwhile, Dalier Hinojosa came on in the 6th inning on Friday.  Gomez should get the next save opportunity based on his strong performance last night, and we will move Hernandez back ahead of Hinojosa for now.

Updated hierarchy: *Gomez | Hernandez | Hinojosa.
* = closer-by-committee

Cincinnati Reds — J.J. Hoover rebounded on Saturday with a 1-2-3 9th inning to protect a four-run victory.  Before the game, manager Bryan Price said that Hoover has earned the right to close out games based on what he has done in previous years.  We are still not sold on Hoover’s potential as the Reds closer this year but he seems secure in the role for now.

Hierarchy remains: Hoover | Diaz | Cingrani.

Cleveland Indians – Bryan Shaw came on in the 7th inning yesterday to protect a one-run lead, but left after giving up five runs.  Zach McAllister came on to strike out Alex Avila to end the inning.  Manager Terry Francona said he went with Shaw over McAllister in the 7th inning based on matchups.  We will slot McAllister onto our hierarchy and he could move to first in line behind closer Cody Allen if Shaw has any more outings like yesterday.

Updated hierarchy: Allen | Shaw | McAllister.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH:
1. Daniel Hudson, Arizona Diamondbacks – Brad Ziegler has pitched in two straight and three of four.
2. Kevin Jepsen, Minnesota Twins – Glen Perkins threw 27 pitches yesterday and the Twins could be cautious with him early in the season.
3. Sergio Romo, San Francisco Giants – Santiago Casilla has pitched in two straight, including a 23 pitch blown save yesterday.

Ryan Madson grabs another save in Oakland

April 9, 2016

Oakland A’s — A few days ago, Bob Melvin explained that though Sean Doolittle was the team’s closer, he could be used in the eighth if matchups required a strong lefthander. And in a tie game Friday night, Doolittle came on in the eighth to face the middle of the Seattle order, including two lefties and a switch-hitter. Ryan Madson earned his second save of the year and told reporters afterward that there were “no egos” in the Oakland bullpen. This approach is great for A’s fans and bullpen postmodernists, but Doolittle owners might prefer a more traditional role for the bearded one, as he fights to return to his 2014 dominance.

Hierarchy remains: Doolittle | Madson | Axford.

Pittsburgh Pirates — In a one-run game in the eighth, Clint Hurdle used Neftali Feliz yet again. Both Hurdle and GM Neal Huntington have called Tony Watson the team’s second-best reliever, but say he won’t be limited to the eighth inning alone. That doesn’t explain why he sat and watched Feliz pick up this high-leverage hold, but for now, we’ll keep the status quo. (P.S. — Only two days left to secure your own piece of Neftali Feliz memorabilia! Prove you bought this and we’ll give you free Closer Monkey Premium for a year!)

Hierarchy remains: Melancon | Watson | Feliz.

Cincinnati Reds — Few pitchers have good numbers with the bases loaded, but J.J. Hoover’s struggles are titanic. Last night he was summoned with three on with a chance for a four-out save, but instead surrendered a Papa Slam grand slam to earn the loss. Hoover will likely be featured in our first Hot Seat column next week.

Hierarchy remains: Hoover | Diaz | Cingrani.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Michael Blazek, Milwaukee Brewers — Jeremy Jeffress has pitched on three of the last four days.

Jeanmar Gomez may be next in line for a Philly save opp

April 8, 2016

Philadelphia Phillies — The Phillies are now 0-3 after Thursday’s loss, and although there was no save chance, the closer situation became even murkier. After the game, manager Pete Mackanin said he was thinking about using Jeanmar Gomez in a save opportunity: “I was thinking about Gomez. We’re auditioning. We’ve got to find out. It’s a daily question. Why not Gomez? Let’s see what he can do.” Later he called the situation “up for grabs” and a “toss-up.” This kind of uncertainty is not what fantasy managers want to hear. Either way, it could be worth snatching up the new leader in the majors’ most volatile committee.

Updated hierarchy: *Gomez | Hinojosa | Hernandez.
* = closer-by-committee

Texas Rangers — The Rangers have three losses, each credited to a member of their beleaguered bullpen. Shawn Tolleson, whose grip on the ninth inning weakens every day, allowed a walk-off, bases-loaded single to Albert Pujols Thursday night. That run was charged to Sam Dyson, who took the loss but pitched pretty well, escaping a bases-loaded, no-outs jam in the eighth inning. Jeff Bannister doesn’t blame Tolleson or anyone else in the Rangers pen for the struggles, saying after the game, “I felt like our bullpen threw the ball very well.” Yeah, okay. For now, there are no changes to the hierarchy…

Hierarchy remains: Tolleson | Dyson | Kela.

Houston Astros — What happened to Ken Giles? A consensus top-five closer before the season, he was relegated to setup duty after a rough spring, a move that took him by surprise. After allowing a run in one inning against New York earlier this week, Giles came on in a tie game on Thursday with a runner on first in the seventh. He gave up a single and a three-run homer, ballooning his early ERA to 16.20. The home run allowed — his second of the year — matches his total for all of 2015.

Hierarchy remains: Gregerson | Giles | Neshek.

Baltimore Orioles — Zach Britton got a night off after throwing 26 pitches in Wednesday’s game, leaving the save opportunity for the excellent Darren O’Day, who struck out the side.

Hierarchy remains: Britton | O’Day | Givens.

New York Yankees — Andrew Miller fought through the pain from a chip fracture in his non-pitching hand and picked up his first save of the season, working around two singles. Despite his injury, he’ll man the closer role until Aroldis Chapman returns from his domestic violence-related suspension.

Hierarchy remains: Miller | Betances | Shreve.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Dalier Hinojosa/David Hernandez, Philadelphia Phillies — Mackanin says Gomez is the next guy up for a save opportunity. He probably is, but Mackanin says a lot of things. Keep an eye on this situation.

Dalier Hinojosa latest Phillies reliever to struggle

April 7, 2016

Philadelphia Phillies – For the second straight game the Philadelphia bullpen could not close out a one-run game. This time it was Dalier Hinojosa who blew a 9th-inning lead, loading the bases before allowing a walk-off double. After the game, Pete Mackanin said he might go back to Hinojosa, but also praised Jeanmar Gomez and David Hernandez, leaving little clarity in what is quickly becoming the majors’ most volatile bullpen. Don’t be surprised if Hernandez or Gomez gets the next save opportunity.

Hierarchy remains: *Hinojosa | Hernandez | Gomez.
* = closer-by-committee

Tampa Bay Rays – As the first Vulture Save Watch of the year predicted, Alex Colome was unavailable after a 34-pitch outing on Tuesday. However, Kevin Cash is nothing if not consistent with his bullpen. He has let the reliever who pitched the eighth inning finish the game in each of the last two outings, with Erasmo Ramirez the latest pitcher to do so. Ramirez may return to the rotation when Brad Boxberger returns to the bullpen. Meanwhile, Xavier Cedeno was seen warming up for the ninth, and given that Danny Farquhar has made two straight 7th-inning appearances with the Rays trailing, it seems that Cedeno is being trusted with higher-leverage situations in the early going. Until Boxberger returns from injury, it looks like Kevin Cash will keep his promise to play matchups, which means we will be monitoring the Rays bullpen closely for the next few weeks.

Updated hierarchy: *Colome | Cedeno | Farquhar.
* = closer-by-committee

Texas Rangers – The Rangers are the latest team to see their closer get shelled in the early going. Two days after picking up a tough save, Shawn Tolleson gave up five runs without recording an out in a miserable 14-pitch outing. It was the second straight day of bullpen problems in Texas. Jeff Bannister was at least hinting at a situational closer this spring, and this meltdown could begin to push him in that direction, but Tolleson was stellar last year, so it’s a bit early to pull the plug. However, another bad outing and it could be Sam Dyson finding his way into some saves.

Hierarchy remains: Tolleson | Dyson | Kela.

New York Yankees — Ivan Nova picked up the first long-relief save of the year, pitching four scoreless innings in a 10-run blowout. Nova is still fighting for a rotation spot and does not normally factor into the Yankees’ late-inning mix.

Hierarchy remains: Miller | Betances | Shreve.

Oakland A’s — With Sean Doolittle getting a night off after pitching in the past two games, Ryan Madson picked up the save. Madson has looked solid in the early going, and could definitely push Doolittle for the closer’s role, but Madson himself is calling Doolittle the “anchor.”

Hierarchy remains: Doolittle | Madson | Axford.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Sam Dyson, Texas Rangers — Shawn Tolleson may get a night off after yesterday’s nightmare outing.